Distraint - Your Options
Tax distraint is the course of action of taking ownership of a person's belongings to sell at auction, as a way to pay off outstanding tax arrears. The Inland Revenue has the legitimate right to take this course of action without a court ruling, but a specific process has to be followed to stay within the rules. To start with, a mail will be sent to the taxpayer in arrears warning that distraint is about to begin. This will be followed by a call to the debtor's home or premises by a tax man, in order to determine what belongings and possessions of value may be seized.




